During his visit to Sumgayit, President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of a copper processing plant.
The diversification of the economy, ensuring the dynamic development of the non-oil sector, increasing its competitiveness and accelerating investment in the industry are among the priorities of the policy of socioeconomic development pursued by President Ilham Aliyev. In accordance with this policy, our country focuses on the development of industry - one of the main branches of the non-oil sector. The copper processing plant put into operation in Sumgayit is also part of comprehensive work in this field.
It is no coincidence that over the last 10 years, great progress has been made in the development of industry like in all sectors of the Azerbaijani economy and industrial production has increased by 2.7 times. One of the noteworthy important factors is that over 40 billion manats were invested in the country's industry in this period. At this stage, in view of contemporary challenges and new initiatives, a series of measures aimed at modernizing industry and diversifying the non-oil industry are being taken. Also, the involvement of available natural and economic resources in the economic turnover, creation of new industrial areas along with traditional industries and industrial parks, increasing the industrial potential of the regions and the formation of capacities that help to ensure the development of industry based on innovation do not remain without attention. The Sumgayit copper processing plant is of particular importance in this issue.
Minister of Economy and Industry Shahin Mustafayev informed the head of state that to date, the National Fund to Support Entrepreneurship has allocated 1 billion 200 million manats in concessional loans to finance the investment projects of about 20,000 entrepreneurs in the country. With the help of these projects, more than 116,000 new jobs have been created. In Sumgayit, 89.8 million manats were allocated in concessional loans to finance 318 investment projects. As a result of the implementation of investment projects, about 6,000 new jobs were created using these loans. In Sumgayit, the plant for the production of paper and paperboard, the factory manufacturing vegetable oils and the copper processing plant based on the use of modern technology were granted preferential loans for a total amount of 25 million manat from the state.
President Ilham Aliyev watched a film about the activities of the copper processing plant.
It was noted that processing at the plant will be carried out in accordance with international standards. Environmentally clean production of copper cathode plates by electrolysis and finished copper products will be organized here. The National Fund to Support Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Economy and Industry allocated a preferential loan of 5 million manats for the construction of the plant, the total value of which exceeds 10 million manats. The plant consists of electrolysis, copper reception, smelting and vertical casting sections.
President Ilham Aliyev started up the plant.
It was noted that the plant is fitted out with modern equipment and works on the basis of technologies from specialized companies known around the world. The processing is carried out in four stages. Given the possibilities of domestic waste market an average of 500 tons of waste are accepted during a month. In the second stage, 450 tons of anode raw materials are received per month. The process is seriously controlled in the laboratory. The result is copper cathode plates that have high technological purity. The copper composition of these plates is 99.99 percent, which is the highest indicator.
The main customers of products are businesses located in the Sumgayit Technology Park. These plants are using these products as semifinished products, produce copper cables of different sizes and other copper products.
President Ilham Aliyev visited the site of copper processing.
The head of state was informed about the production process.
It was noted that the production process is fully automated here, which ensures the high quality of the finished product. The advantage of this technology lies in the fact that the percentage of oxygen in copper is reduced to a minimum level, whereby high quality cables are made. The conductivity of copper cables manufactured in this manner is much higher.
It was noted that these products are in great demand on the domestic and global market. Currently, the main customers of the 8mm copper cables produced at the factory are local companies. As a result of the project, 70 new jobs have been created.
It was stressed that the plant created on the basis of modern technology and equipment will make it possible to stop importing copper products and meet the needs in this area through domestic production. In addition, using waste as raw material, the plant will contribute to the improvement of the environment. Important steps will also be taken to create new jobs by expanding the capacity of the plant and opening reception points.
